Theatrical-scenery trimmer.



No. 776,173. PATBNTED NOV. 29, 1904.

J. R. GLANGY.

THEATRIGAL SGENERY TRIMMER.

1 uruuwmn FILED r1112. 11, 1004. no MODEL: 2 SHEBT8BHEET 1.

PATBNTED NOV. 29, 1904.

J. R. GLANGY.

THEATRIGAL SUENBRY TRIMMER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

W 11,. NESS I: s j if WA 2% NTED STATES Patented November 29, 1904:.

PATENT riucn.

THEATRlCAL-SCENERY TRIMMER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 776,173, dated November29, 1904. Application filed February 1'7, 1904;. Serial No. 194,038. (Nomodel.)

To (.LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. OLAnoY, of Syracuse, in the county ofOnondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Theatrical-Scenery Trimmers, of which the following,taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear,and exact description.

This invention relates to the theatrical-scenery trimmer shown in myLetters Patent No. 749,981, dated January 19, 190 1.

Theobject of my present invention is to provide means for trimming oradjusting large scenery suspended by a plurality of lines connected,respectively, to the ends, center, and intermediate portions of the topof the scenery.

To attain the said object in a convenient and eflicient manner, I employthe improved tackle-frame in combination with the aforesaid lines andropes connected to said lines to compensate for the variations inshrinkages of the lines of diiferent lengths. My said improvedtackle-frame and its connections are illustrated in the annexeddrawings, in which Figure 1 is a face view of a theatrical sceneryrequiring a plurality of suspending-lines connected, respectively, tothe ends, central, and intermediate portions of the top of the scenery.Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of the face of the tackle-frame and itsconnections with the suspending-lines and compensating ropes, and Fig. 3is a further enlarged transverse section on line X X in Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

G represents the theatrical scenery, which is suspended by a pluralityof lines a a, a a, and (0 running upon sheaves b, pivoted to suitableblocks or brackets c, which are secured to a beam B, suitably fastenedto the walls of the theater, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

T represents the tackle-frame, by means of which all of the aforesaidsuspending-lines are operated simultaneously. This tackle-frame iscomposed of upwardly-extending and preferably converging arms c c,whichare united. at their upper ends, as shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings. The lower ends of the arms (2 c are tied to each other bymeans of a cross-bar f,

which is formed with a bGCliGiJ and integral with said tackle-frame. Tothe junction of the upper ends of the arms c c are pivoted two pulleys(Z d, disposed one above the other, and. above the upper pulley (Z is abecket 71, formed on the bracket-frame. To the lower ends of the arms 0c are pivoted pulleys h 71.

All of the aforesaid suspending-lines run over sheaves 0, pivoted to asuitable stationary prop or support P, from which sheaves the endportions of the lines are suspended and thence connected to thetackle-frame T in the following manner:

Across the bottom of the uppermost pulley (Z runs a compensating ropeZ:, the ends of which are adjustably connected to the sus pending-linesa a in the manner hereinafter described.

Upon the top of the second upper pulley (2 runs a rope j, which thencetraverses the bottoms of the lower pulleys /t it and is adjustablyconnected at its ends to the suspendinglines a a.

In case the size and weight of the scenery C requires additional meansfor suspending it the line a is connected at one end to the center ofthe top of the scenery C and extended over an additional sheave 0 and tothe upper becket c on the tackle-frame T, to which becket the said lineis attached. To the lower becket lis attached a fall or manipulatingrope 0', the lower end of which is adjustably secured to the usualpin-rail t.

For connecting the compensating ropes 7' and k to the sus1 )ending-linesa and a, I prefer to employ at each of said connections a clampshoe 8,which receives through it one of said lines and has pivoted to it aneccentric clamplover a, disposed to grip the line on the interior of theshoe. The free end of said clamp-lever is provided with an eye a,receiving through it one end of one of the compensating ropes, which istied thereto, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. Thestrain of said compensating rope causes the pivoted eccentric to turnand tighten its hold on the inclosed portion of the line withoutsubjecting said line to undue abrasion and wear.

Nhat 1 claim as my invention is 1.. The combination with a theatricalseenery, a plurality of suspending-lines connected to the scenery at theends and intermediate portions thereof, a tackle-frame having pivoted toit a plurality of pulleys, and compensating ropes traversing saidpulleys, of shoes receiving through them said suspending-lines, andeccentric clamp levers pivoted to said shoes and disposed to grip saidsuspendinglines and connected at their free ends to the compensatingropes substantially as set forth and shown.

2. The combination with a theatrical scenery and a plurality ofsuspending-lines, connected respectively to the ends, central andintermediate portions of the scenery, of a tackle-frame composed ofupwardly-extending arms united at their upper ends, a becket to thelower becket as set forth and shown.

JOHN R. CLANCY. [L. s] Witnesses:

J. J. LAAss, L. H. FULMER.

